How to prevent Illustrator from creating AITEMP folder?

[Igor5FEB]

Illustrator creates AITEMP folder on C:\ drive. How do I stop it? When I delete the folder, it appears again after the app's restart.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Igor5FEB,

I appreciate you bringing up the issue with the temporary files being generated. I recognize how such unexpected occurrences can interfere with your work, and I'm grateful for your understanding as we seek a resolution.

From prior discussions with users who faced similar challenges, it’s hard to determine the exact reason without additional information. Could you please check in system safe mode (Mac/ Windows) and see if Illustrator continues to create these temporary files? Additionally, try altering the scratch disk location, and inform us if the problem continues.

Please also provide the Illustrator & OS version along with your system specifications (CPU, RAM, GPU, etc.).

After you’ve had a moment to investigate, feel free to share your findings, and we’ll collaborate to find a solution.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[Igor5FEB]

Windows 11 Pro 24H2 (build 26100.2605), Illustrator 29.1.

Processor i5-1335U, RAM 32GB (if that even matters).

I am only able to change the Scratch Disk location to C or D, and when I change to D, it creates AITEMP folder there.

Did not have the problem in previous Illustrator 28 and Windows 11 23H2.

[Anshul_Saini]

Hello @Igor5FEB,

Thank you for sharing your system details and observations—this really helps narrow down the issue. I understand how having the AITEMP folder reappear can be frustrating, and I’m here to assist you further.

The AITEMP folder is used by Illustrator to store temporary files related to your workspace, especially when performing tasks requiring high memory usage. Unfortunately, this folder’s creation is a necessary part of Illustrator’s functionality and cannot be completely disabled. However, you can manage its location:

Steps to Minimize the Impact:

1. Scratch Disk Adjustment: Since you’ve already noticed that switching to D: places the folder there, this is the best workaround for isolating it from the C: drive.

2. Redirect Temporary Files: To better control where Illustrator creates these files, you can try assigning a custom folder for temporary files within your D: drive to keep things organized.

3. Clear Temporary Files Periodically: If disk space is a concern, you can manually clear the AITEMP folder after saving and closing your projects. Ensure no Illustrator instances are running when doing this.

4. System Mode Testing: Since this issue seems to have appeared after your update to Windows 11 24H2 and Illustrator 29.1, you might want to:

• Test Illustrator in Windows Safe Mode, as suggested by Anubhav, to confirm whether third-party software or permissions settings could interfere.

• Temporarily disable any antivirus or backup tools that may be blocking file handling in these directories.

Also, please confirm the location where you are saving files or where they are currently stored (network drive/ server, locally on desktop, external drive).

If the issue persists, feel free to share more findings, and we’ll do our best to guide you further.

Looking forward to hearing back!

Best regards,

Anshul Saini